What it's like to live in Gloucester City
Gloucester City is a small city in New Jersey with home prices that remain within reach, crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Gloucester City deals with county unemployment above the national average, household incomes below the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and college degree attainment below the national average.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Above-average unemployment in the county
- Below-average household incomes
- Air quality concerns
- Low college degree attainment
- High poverty rate
- Above-average rainfall
How Gloucester City compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Gloucester City
Based on Gloucester City's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,968
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $59,360 a year
- 50% of Gloucester City renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$38,140
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $19,070
- Homes cost 2.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,484/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,484 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $190,700. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $190,700 · 50% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
5.7% county unemployment
Unemployment in Camden County is 5.7%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Camden County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 48% below US
200 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1939/100k · Gloucester City Police Department · 2023 data
Getting around▼ 13% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.7 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 8% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 87°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 30°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 45% below US
20% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a working-class city, and college degree rates reflect that. Trades, manufacturing, and service industries tend to dominate the local economy, which is a strength for some fields and a real constraint for others.
Schools
3 public schools inside the boundary
There are 3 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Gloria Dei Church National Historic Site (3 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Gloucester City's strongest points are home prices that remain within reach and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are county unemployment above the national average and household incomes below the national average. A year of median rent ($1,484/mo) equals 27% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for anyone moving without a job lined up and anyone who doesn't drive.
See all the data for Gloucester City →·All New Jersey cities →
Other places near Gloucester City
All New Jersey guides →Moving to Bellmawr →
2 mi away · pop. 11,737
Rent $1,257/mo · Income $76,654
Compare with Gloucester City →Moving to Collingswood →
3 mi away · pop. 14,205
Rent $1,488/mo · Income $90,184
Compare with Gloucester City →Moving to Camden →
3 mi away · pop. 71,496
Rent $1,226/mo · Income $40,546
Compare with Gloucester City →Moving to Westmont →
4 mi away · pop. 14,195
Rent $1,754/mo · Income $115,317
Compare with Gloucester City →Not sure Gloucester City is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.